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Demons ate away at 'passionate, smiley, gracious' Diana Bliss

Diana Bliss, the wife of former high-flying businessman Alan Bond, was in a "very dark, lonely place" when she died, her brother says.

Peter Bliss said his sister had problems with depression for more than a year and her husband and family were all trying to help her.

"Sometimes we thought we were winning the battle and sometimes we thought we weren't; it was up and down. It's a devastating loss," he told ABC Radio.

Ms Bliss was found dead on Saturday morning at the luxurious beachside home she shared with Mr Bond in Cottesloe.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the 57-year-old, but a report would be prepared for the coroner.

Mr Bliss said his sister was getting a lot of help.

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"We were trying to get her to open up, but I always sensed she was not opening up fully," he said.

He said Ms Bliss, who was a successful theatre producer, was a loving and loyal wife to Mr Bond, a beautiful sister to him and daughter to their mother, and a lovely aunt.

"This is a sad time and it's OK to cry if you're sad," Mr Bliss said through tears.

He said more people took their own lives in Australia each year than died in road crashes, and people needed to know there were many good organisations out there to help.

Mr Bliss said his sister was in "a very dark, lonely place".

"Diane was a very loving, giving, caring person.

"But people who are like that, I think, are the ones who are prone to not look after themselves first, to think of others before they think of themselves."

A sad-faced Mr Bond, who was married to his second wife for 17 years, spoke briefly on Sunday after attending a church service.

"It's so new ... I lost my beautiful wife," he said.

The 73-year-old, involved in one of the biggest corporate collapses in Australian history, was declared bankrupt in 1992 and in 1997 was sentenced to four years' jail for fraud.

Ms Bliss stood by her husband during his jail sentence, making regular trips to prison to visit him.

Friends pay tribute

There are no suspicious circumstances around the death but an increasingly clear picture is emerging of the personal issues and depression that plagued Ms Bliss in the days before her death.

Tony Bonney, who produced shows with her in Perth and knew her for more than 15 years, said her death had come as a shock, but things "added up".

"The last time I spoke to her at any great length was a few months ago; it was obvious that things were getting harder for her," Mr Bonney said.

"It was a shock but, when you piece it all together, you kind of know. It's a terrible shame."

Rodney Phillips, general manager of His Majesty's Theatre, said he had enjoyed swapping stories about the Perth and London theatre scene with Ms Bliss when she was in Perth.

He heard that she had become unwell a couple of months ago.

"I left her a message. Sadly I never heard again from her. I wasn't aware of the sad situation developing," Mr Phillips said.

A 'beautiful wife' lost

Police were called to the Hawkstone Street home about 11.30am on Saturday after being notified of Ms Bliss's death by St John Ambulance.

It has been reported her body was found in a swimming pool in the rear of the property and that a man had called for an ambulance.

The Hawkstone Street home yesterday.

Mr Bond left the couple's two-storey house yesterday morning and then returned, apparently having gone to church.

Mr Bond, who reinvented himself as a successful businessman after his release from prison, briefly told assembled media that he had lost his "beautiful wife".

A handful of journalists and camera crew spent much of yesterday morning camped outside the home, at which there was a regular flow of people coming and going.

Ms Bliss was known as an intensely private person, which is why she and Mr Bond had spent time living in relative anonymity in London.

Alan Bond and Diana Bliss at a 20th-anniversary America's Cup function.

A hit in the West End

Perth entertainment publicist Rosita Stangl described Ms Bliss as a "lovely, smiley, gracious lady" and said the true mark of her professional work was her success in Britain.

"If you make it in the West End, you are doing very well; that's why those in the Australian theatre industry respected her so much," Ms Stangl said.

"Top theatre promoters would seek her advice and opinion on what was working in theatre and her opinion on bringing certain shows to Australia."

Those sentiments were echoed by Melbourne Festival artistic director Brett Sheehy, who remembered her as "universally loved" and a champion of the then unknown Tracy Letts in 1997.

6PR entertainment reporter Peter Ford, meanwhile, took to Twitter to express his sadness over the death of Ms Bliss.

"Diana bliss was [a] gifted woman and lover of the arts but sadly also a deeply troubled woman who did try to get help," he tweeted.

"Money doesn't buy happiness is the old cliche and true ... but also mental health issues know no boundaries of class, fame or beauty."

Methodist ministry to big money

The daughter of a Methodist minister, Ms Bliss spent her early teens in Sydney. She met Mr Bond in the 1980s in Perth, and he asked her to run his corporate airline.

Ms Bliss, who preferred to be called Di, also worked in fashion, had a short stint as a Qantas flight attendant and worked in public relations

Mr Bond is one of the most colourful and controversial business characters in WA.

During his high-flying days in the 1980s, he paid Kerry Packer $1 billion for Channel Nine, forked out $54 million for a Van Gogh painting and gained nationwide popularity by funding the historic 1983 America's Cup win of Australia II.

But he was declared bankrupt in 1992 and jailed for fraud in 1997. Mr Bond later re-established himself as a businessman of note after his release from prison in 2000.

Mr Bond had four children with his former wife Eileen - their daughter Susanne died of a morphine overdose in her Peppermint Grove home in 2000.

Mr Bond married Ms Bliss in 1995 after he had been discharged as a bankrupt.

Family too distraught to talk yet

Another of Mr Bond's daughters, Jody, spoke briefly to the media outside the Hawkstone Street house yesterday.

She thanked people for their interest, said the family would eventually "share" something in writing and asked for privacy.

Two visitors yesterday to the Cottesloe residence of Mr Bond and Ms Bliss.

One of Ms Bliss's most recent theatrical roles had been as associate producer of the Perth Theatre Company's production of Equus at His Majesty's Theatre in 2009.

Yesterday the director of that show, PTC artistic director Melissa Cantwell said Ms Bliss would be sorely missed.

"Di was an extraordinary woman - kind, smart, funny, beautiful and inspiring," she said.

"She was a truly gifted producer whose incredible support for me and my company will be treasured always. It's a tragic loss.

"She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, you just couldn't help but love this vivacious, generous and engaging lady. My deepest sympathy to her loved ones and family."

- with Manuel Mitternacht, Ilya Gridneff and AAP

❏ Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.

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